I am guessing they don't use electric razors, and I seem to remember they are not allowed to use mirrors. So how do they shave (head and face)? And how often? Is it required?

Thanks,Coyote

"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared." Iti 26

“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.” - Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.- Sutta Nipata 3.725

One of the basic items of a monk's kit (the Requisites) is a razor. The monks I know have Schick or Gillette three-bladed normal manual shaving razors, and shave their heads once every two weeks.That's in the western Thai Forest Tradition.But I don't know about the mirror thing. I never thought of that.

Then, saturated with joy, you will put an end to suffering and stress.SN 9.11

I do use an electric hair-clipper to shave the longer head hairs before using a safety razor. Some Vinaya experts will say that amounts to using scissors, but that misses the point. Its just a tool to make the job of shaving quicker and easier.

The scissors rule is about not grooming long hair to fashion it like barbers do for lay people.

In Burma, they still use open razors, and some monks shave their own heads with them too, but I prefer a standard safety razor.

Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:I don't need a mirror to shave — I know where my face is by now.

I do use an electric hair-clipper to shave the longer head hairs before using a safety razor. Some Vinaya experts will say that amounts to using scissors, but that misses the point. Its just a tool to make the job of shaving quicker and easier.

The scissors rule is about not grooming long hair to fashion it like barbers do for lay people.

In Burma, they still use open razors, and some monks shave their own heads with them too, but I prefer a standard safety razor.

Bhante, I only remark about the mirror because I know that I would make a right mess of my face if I tried to shave without one!It is interesting to read about the use of an electric hair-clipper. I remember reading in one of Ven. Thanissaro's books that the Vinaya rule would include such electric devices, so it is interesting to read your interpretation.

Coyote

"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared." Iti 26

Unless ill — e.g., he has a sore on his head — a bhikkhu may not use scissors to cut his hair or have it cut. The question of using electric razors to shave the head is a controversial one. Because their cutting action — even in rotary shavers — is like that of scissors, many Communities will not allow their use in shaving the head.

Unless ill — e.g., he has a sore on his head — a bhikkhu may not use scissors to cut his hair or have it cut. The question of using electric razors to shave the head is a controversial one. Because their cutting action — even in rotary shavers — is like that of scissors, many Communities will not allow their use in shaving the head.

Bhante, yes, that was the one I was thinking of. Thank you.

Coyote

"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared." Iti 26

I beg your pardon, I meant 'you don't need a mirror to shave.If I don't have a mirror, I can shave in the dark by touch with a disposable razor.

I was tired and it was late when I wrote my earlier response - I am sorry for the confusion.kind regards,

“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.” - Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Ben wrote:I beg your pardon, I meant 'you don't need a mirror to shave.If I don't have a mirror, I can shave in the dark by touch with a disposable razor.

I was tired and it was late when I wrote my earlier response - I am sorry for the confusion.kind regards,

Hahaha, that clears some of the confusion up For a second there, I thought Ben had figured out a novel new way to shave!

If I have an epiphany regarding a razorless-shave I'll definitely share it with you!

“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.” - Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.- Sutta Nipata 3.725

I beg your pardon, I meant 'you don't need a mirror to shave.If I don't have a mirror, I can shave in the dark by touch with a disposable razor.

I was tired and it was late when I wrote my earlier response - I am sorry for the confusion.kind regards,

Hahaha, that clears some of the confusion up For a second there, I thought Ben had figured out a novel new way to shave!

If I have an epiphany regarding a razorless-shave I'll definitely share it with you!

Wax strips?

Bhikkhus, if you develop and make much this one thing, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction. What is it? It is recollecting the Enlightened One. If this single thing is recollected and made much, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction.Anguttara-Nikaya: Ekanipata: Ekadhammapali: PañhamavaggaBuddhanussatiSCVSMVMMBS

Bhikkhus, if you develop and make much this one thing, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction. What is it? It is recollecting the Enlightened One. If this single thing is recollected and made much, it invariably leads to weariness, cessation, appeasement, realization and extinction.Anguttara-Nikaya: Ekanipata: Ekadhammapali: PañhamavaggaBuddhanussatiSCVSMVMMBS

Coyote wrote:I am guessing they don't use electric razors, and I seem to remember they are not allowed to use mirrors. So how do they shave (head and face)? And how often? Is it required?

Thanks,Coyote

The electric razor isn't allowed as it cuts like scisors. but they can use a mirror, just not stare at themselves like Narcissus, so a mirror for practical purposes is allowed but not to be over used.The vinaya requirement is that the hair not get too long, no more than two finger breadths or every two lunar months, if I remember correctly.

a simple blade razor would be used now but clam shells and other tools were used in different cultures in the past for the purpose.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion … ...He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.John Stuart Mill

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion … ...He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.John Stuart Mill

Cittasanto wrote:The electric razor isn't allowed as it cuts like scisors. but they can use a mirror, just not stare at themselves like Narcissus, so a mirror for practical purposes is allowed but not to be over used.

Thanissaro's Buddhist Monastic Code says this:

"One should not gaze at the reflection of one's face in a mirror or in a bowl of water. Whoever should do so: an offense of wrong doing"... "I allow that, on account of a disease, one gaze at the reflection of one's face in a mirror or in a bowl of water." — Cv.V.2.4

Do you know of another explanation that allows for practical use, or is this based on your experience with monks?

Thanks,Coyote

"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared." Iti 26